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The Nigerian Senate, Wednesday passed the Rivers State 2025 budget for second reading.
The budget which stood at N1,480,662592,442 trillion was passed for second reading after it was read by the Senate Leader, Senator Michael Bamidele Opeyemi.
Opeyemi said the Senate has since assumed the powers of legislating for Rivers State having been under the State of Emergency.
In his contribution, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan said, there was a need for the budget to be legislated immediately so that the people of Rivers could feel the presence of government.
He said, “Mr President, I don’t know under what topic this document is christened but I could see it is about a budget of the state of emergency.
I hereby support that the budget be passed for second reading so that the people of Rivers can feel the presence of government.
In absence of opposition to the bill, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio passed the budget through voice vote and referred it to the Ad-hoc Committee on overseeing Rivers State of Emergency.
[DailyPost]
The Senate on Wednesday adopted the harmonised conference committee report on the four tax reform bills.
The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration and approval of the recommendations of the conference committee of both chambers set up to harmonize the Bills.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and leader of the Senate delegation in the conference committee, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, presented the report.
The four tax reforms Bills which were transmitted to the National Assembly in November last year by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu include: The Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, 2025 (SB. 583); Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2025 (SB. 584); Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, 2025 (SB. 585); and Nigeria Tax Bill, 2025 (SB. 586).
Details shortly…
[TheNation]
As Nigerians continue to battle inflation and rising cost of living, the political arena is heating up for the 2027 election.
President Bola Tinubu, who came into power in 2023, now faces growing opposition from influential political figures seeking to block his bid for a second term.
Amid widespread public dissatisfaction and perceived policy failures, a broad coalition of political stakeholders is already taking shape, united by a common goal: to unseat Tinubu.
Critics of the president accuse him of implementing policies they describe as anti-people, failing to alleviate economic hardship, and allegedly attempting to steer Nigeria toward a one-party state.
In their view, the current administration has not only fallen short on promises but is pushing the country further into distress.
PUNCH Online has gathered a list of some of the prominent figures and groups positioning themselves against Tinubu’s re-election bid below:
Peter Obi
The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has declared his intention to run again in 2027. Obi remains vocal about his commitment to changing Nigeria’s political landscape and has hinted at various coalition arrangements.
In March, Obi joined forces with other top politicians, including Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai, to form a coalition aimed at mounting a formidable challenge against Tinubu in the upcoming election cycle.
Reports have also surfaced suggesting the possibility of Obi accepting a vice-presidential slot under Atiku in a one-term, power-sharing deal—although neither camp has confirmed this officially.
Atiku Abubakar
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who contested under the PDP in 2023, has shown no signs of stepping back from the political stage. Like Obi, he has thrown his weight behind the emerging coalition intended to displace Tinubu in 2027.
Atiku has reportedly proposed a one-term presidency with Obi as his running mate, fueling speculation about a strategic alliance to consolidate the opposition vote.
Their March announcement of the coalition, however, sparked debates about the effectiveness of such political unity.
Seyi Makinde
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has not ruled out his own presidential ambition.
In April, he confidently stated that he possessed the competence to lead Nigeria, though he emphasised that any decision on contesting would align with the wishes of Nigerians and his party.
Makinde remarked, “I don’t have any doubt that I have the capacity to occupy the highest office in this land… but what I want to do right now, is it what Nigerians are asking for?”
His rising profile within the PDP has prompted a group, the Brave New Vision Support Group, to begin lobbying for his candidacy. Campaign posters bearing his image and the slogan “To Move Nigeria Forward 2027” have appeared in key locations across Kano State.
Nasir El-Rufai
A former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has been one of the most outspoken critics of Tinubu’s administration.
El-Rufai recently confirmed that discussions are ongoing to form a powerful opposition alliance to oust the President in 2027.
Speaking in May, El-Rufai boldly declared, “Anybody that thinks it is possible for President Bola Tinubu to get re-elected is living in another country, not Nigeria… I don’t see a pathway for him, no matter how disorganised the opposition is.”
According to El-Rufai, the economic and political situation has eroded Tinubu’s support base to the point of no return.
Babachir Lawal
Another prominent voice in the anti-Tinubu bloc is Babachir Lawal, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Lawal has been actively involved in coalition talks and is reportedly playing a key role in strategising for 2027.
Rotimi Amaechi and Liyel Imoke
Two former governors, Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River), are also significant players in the anti-Tinubu movement.
They have been tasked with defining the platform for the coalition, whether it involves forming a new party or fusing with an existing one.
[Punch]
FORMER President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Rivers State, and transport minister for the two terms of his administration on the attainment of the milestone of 60 years.
The former president described Governor Amaechi as a “golden fish,” an asset to his administration.
Buhari in a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, was quoted as saying: “Amaechi shared with me the aspiration of
strengthening infrastructure, bridging the nation’s long-delayed gaps through the railway, a vital component, leading to its revival from a comatose state, completion of abandoned projects, turning them into major transit hubs, and initiating major ones across the country, some of which were driven to completion before he left office.
“The railway system which used to be the heartbeat of several towns and cities, killed and buried for decades opened a new chapter under his leadership, faithfully serving millions of Nigerians by increasing network capacity for passenger and freight services, helping to address demand, introducing new services and rolling stock, and improving safety.
“Under him, the nation witnessed a new era of railway infrastructure. I wish him and his family many happy years ahead.”
[Vanguard]
Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has declared his decision to boycott all meetings of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and others he described as impostors are expelled from the party.
Lamido, a founding member of the PDP, was noticeably absent at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held Tuesday, May 27, in Abuja. The NEC, the party’s highest decision-making body, includes current and former presidents, governors, party officials, and other prominent stakeholders.
Speaking to journalists, Lamido accused Wike of undermining the PDP, despite being a major beneficiary of the party's platform. “Wike is a disaster. He is a product of the PDP, made relevant by the party, nurtured and celebrated by the party. But today, he turns around to destroy it,” Lamido said.
The former governor expressed discontent over the continued inclusion of Wike in PDP affairs. “I cannot sit in the same meeting with impostors. Until the party removes these people, I will not attend PDP meetings. I am still a loyal member, but I won’t dignify this rot,” he stated.
Lamido also condemned the recent sealing of the PDP national secretariat in Abuja by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), attributing the action to Wike’s influence. “To seal the PDP secretariat, an institution that gave you life, is un-African, un-Nigerian, and a total abuse of power,” he said.
He criticised the party’s national working committee (NWC) for what he described as a failure to act decisively against members who had allegedly breached party rules. “What exactly is the NWC afraid of? Why hasn’t Wike been expelled? Why is Samuel Ortom still on the board of trustees after publicly endorsing Tinubu? These are fundamental breaches. If this party is to survive, it must cleanse itself,” he said.
Lamido praised President Bola Tinubu for issuing a 14-day ultimatum to FCT ground rent defaulters, while alleging that Wike ordered the closure of the PDP headquarters in an attempt to gain favour from the president. “Ironically, the man Wike is trying to impress was the one who called him to order. That tells you everything. Even Tinubu is beginning to see that Wike is unreliable, without tradition and pedigree. And I assure you, he will soon abandon him too,” Lamido said.
He also warned against the threat of a one-party system in Nigeria, calling it “state-sponsored sabotage,” and blamed internal sabotage for the deepening crisis in the PDP, which has lingered since 2022.
An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged that former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, received $17.1 million in cash through a proxy over a period of three years.
Testifying before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Tuesday, EFCC investigator Alvan Gurumnaan stated that the funds were delivered between 2020 and 2023 and handed over to Henry Omoile, an associate of Emefiele, at the ex-governor’s Ikoyi residence.
Gurumnaan, led in evidence by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, said the financial trail was discovered through the statement of a dispatch rider, Monday Osazuwa, who previously testified for the prosecution.
“The personal errands Osazuwa ran for Emefiele, according to him, was when he received a call from Emefiele, who then sent him a phone number and asked him to call Mohit who was in London. After he called Mohit, Mohit gave him the contact of an individual,” Gurumnaan told the court.
“Osazuwa met the individual from September 2020 to 2023, and received monies in dollars on behalf of Emefiele — a total of $17,100,000. Upon receiving the sums, Osazuwa went to Emefiele’s house at Ikoyi and handed over the money to the second defendant, Henry Omoile, as instructed by the first defendant.”
He said the transactions typically occurred on Fridays and were coordinated through WhatsApp messages, which were retrieved and printed after the EFCC secured permission to access the phone.
“We obtained proper authorization before accessing the phone, and the relevant WhatsApp messages were sent to the email of my colleague, Musa Idi,” he said.
Gurumnaan, who has served in the EFCC’s Special Investigation Department since 2008, added that the commission had received several petitions against Emefiele, alleging abuse of office and financial impropriety.
“We wrote to the Central Bank of Nigeria, Corporate Affairs Commission, Department of Legal Services, and Financial Market Dealers Quotations to request supporting documents,” he said. “After collating the documents, we invited officials from those institutions. Some were delayed while others were released on bail.”Nigerian home decor ideas
He said individuals close to Emefiele, including John Adetola and John Ogah, were interviewed during the investigation. One name, Eric Udoh, featured prominently, but efforts to reach him have been unsuccessful.
“There is a report tracing him to the Dominican Republic, Canada, and the United Kingdom. As an effort to bring him to answer questions, we contacted Interpol and have placed him on red. He is now wanted all over the world,” Gurumnaan said.
Emefiele and Omoile are facing a 19-count charge bordering on corrupt demands and gratification amounting to $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion. The court adjourned the case to October 7 and 8, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has issued a stark warning to U.S. President Donald Trump, invoking the threat of World War III following Trump’s criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The warning came after Trump stated he would "absolutely" consider new sanctions against Moscow, amid continued missile and drone attacks in Ukraine that have left many dead.
In a post on X, Medvedev wrote:
“Regarding Trump’s words about Putin ‘playing with fire’ and ‘really bad things’ happening to Russia — I only know of one REALLY BAD thing: WWIII. I hope Trump understands this!”
Medvedev served as Russia’s president from 2008 to 2012 and as prime minister from 2012 to 2020.
Trump’s frustration over his inability to end the war, which he once claimed he could resolve within 24 hours, intensified over the weekend following a Russian drone strike that killed at least 13 people in Ukraine.
Diplomatic efforts to end the war have ramped up in recent weeks, but Putin has been accused of stalling peace negotiations.
Speaking on Tuesday, Trump warned of “serious consequences,” saying: “What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realise is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia — and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!”
While Trump did not elaborate on the nature of the consequences, The Wall Street Journal and CNN reported that new U.S. sanctions on Russia could be announced as early as this week. On Sunday, Trump told reporters he was “absolutely” considering the move.
Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022, has yet to respond directly to Trump’s latest comments. However, earlier statements from Moscow blamed Ukraine for escalating tensions and claimed it was responding to increased attacks on Russian civilians.
Russian authorities reported intercepting nearly 150 Ukrainian drones in recent days, including 33 that were heading toward Moscow.
The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja, on Tuesday, convicted and sentenced two oil marketers, Mamman Nasir Ali and Christian Taylor, to 14 years imprisonment each, having found them guilty of conspiracy and fraudulent collection of N2.2bn under the Petroleum Support Fund scheme.
Delivering judgment in the matter, Justice Mojisola Dada held that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt and found the convicts guilty on multiple counts of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences, forgery, and tendering false documents.
The court further held that their conduct not only defrauded the Federal Government but also eroded public trust in the fuel subsidy programme.
Ali and Taylor were arraigned alongside their company, Nasaman Oil Services Limited, on an amended 57 counts brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, following fresh findings in the course of an investigation.
They had earlier been arraigned on a 49-count charge before the matter was reassigned to Justice Dada, following the withdrawal of Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo.
The EFCC said that the convicts, on or about November 9, 2011, fraudulently obtained N749,991,273.36 by falsely claiming the amount represented subsidy payment for the importation of 10,031,986 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, allegedly purchased from SEATAC Petroleum Ltd of the British Virgin Islands and delivered through MT Liquid Fortune Ex MT Overseas Lima, a representation they knew to be false.
The EFCC also told the court that on or about April 11, 2011, the defendants fraudulently obtained N1,480,074,125.61 by making similar false claims concerning the importation of 20,492,982.50 litres of PMS, purportedly brought into Nigeria via MT Liquid Fortune Ex MT Hellenic Blue and Ex MT Milleura.
They pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges preferred against them.
The prosecution, led by Mr. Seiduh Atteh, called several witnesses and tendered numerous documentary exhibits, which were admitted in evidence by the court.
In sentencing the convicts, the court imposed 14 years’ imprisonment on each of them to run concurrently.
Additionally, Justice Dada ordered the forfeiture of identified assets and bank accounts linked to the fraudulent scheme.
The court further issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Olabisi Abdul-Afeez, who are still at large.
Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has petitioned the Court of Appeal in Abuja to overturn a judgment granting the government full control of a substantial estate in Abuja comprising 753 housing units.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had earlier obtained a court order to seize the estate, situated in the Lokogoma district of Abuja.
Initially, the estate was linked to another unnamed former government official. However, Emefiele, through his legal representative A.M. Kotoye, contends that he ought to have been involved in the proceedings, as he holds an interest in the property. He is now seeking the Appeal Court’s reversal of the lower court’s ruling.
“I was unaware of the forfeiture,” Emefiele asserts.
He informed the court that the EFCC published the interim forfeiture notice in an obscure section of a newspaper, making it difficult to detect.
Additionally, Emefiele explained that he was simultaneously managing three criminal cases in both Abuja and Lagos, which hindered his ability to notice the publication.
He further accused the EFCC of deliberately concealing the forfeiture case from him, despite their ongoing engagement with him on other charges.
The trial court, however, dismissed his claim, ruling that the EFCC had followed due process and that the newspaper notice was sufficient.
The judge declared that the notice “could not reasonably be described as hidden.”
Dissatisfied, Emefiele lodged an appeal on April 30, 2025, requesting the Court of Appeal to: reverse the judgment delivered on April 28, 2025; annul the interim and final forfeiture orders dated November 1 and 2 December 2024 respectively; and grant his application filed on January 28, 2025.
He argued that the trial court had misconstrued his application and erroneously dismissed it without proper consideration of critical facts, asserting that the orders were founded on “hearsay, suspicion, and no proper evidence.”
Emefiele also maintained that he possessed both legal and equitable interests in the estate, despite the court’s assertion that he failed to provide proof of ownership.
“The entire ruling is a miscarriage of justice,” Emefiele declared.
He added, “The failure of the trial judge to properly evaluate the affidavit and documents before him is perverse and has caused a miscarriage of justice.
“The orders were made in breach of the 1999 Constitution and are therefore null and void.”
Meanwhile, Emefiele’s legal team has written to the Minister of Housing, urging the government to halt all plans to sell the estate until the appeal is resolved.
“We are aware that the properties may soon be sold to the public. We have already served the EFCC with a notice of appeal and an injunction,” the letter stated.
The federal government had recently announced intentions to auction the estate to low- and middle-income Nigerians.
Operatives of the Rivers State Police have arrested a 45-year-old Pastor of a new generation church simply identified as Lucky, for allegedly defiling a 10-year-old girl in the Ihuaje community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
It was gathered that the arrest of the said cleric was carried out by members of a local security outfit formally called ‘ONELGA Security Planning and Advisory Committee’ led by its Commander code-named OSPAC.
Punch Metro further gathered that the Commander of OSPAC in Ahoada East LGA, Precious Ihuruzu, led his men to the community after receiving the news of the incident.
The suspect, who is the pastor of a branch of the church in the area and handed over to the Ahoada Police Division.
Speaking to newsmen on the incident, a member of the association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Dennis Otobo, said he had received a call from the gender desk of the State Ministry of Health about a case of child abuse which they wanted him to follow up; which he obliged.
Otobo added, “In the course of my investigation, I got to know that one Pastor Lucky (surname withheld), who is also the proprietor of a group of schools (private) in Ihuaje community in Ahoada East, has been having sexual affairs with a 10-year-old girl in his care.
“This got to the knowledge of the parents. When the parents visited her on that Saturday at the Pastor’s house, the girl now informed them of what she had been going through. That anytime he had affairs with her, he would give her N500 to keep quiet.
“Her parents immediately took the girl to the hospital, where they did a preliminary investigation.
“On that level, I decided to call the Divisional Police Officer for assistance and arrest. It was in the evening that the DPO told me that they should come on Sunday and that he was going to handle the case professionally. Truly, he did that because, as we are talking, the man (pastor) is in Ahoada Police station, Ahoada East.”
Otobo commended the DPO of Ahoada Police Division, the Chief Security Officer of Ahoada East LGA, Hector Ekeakita, the OSPAC and a rights activist, Prince Wiro, who is the National Coordinator of the Centre for Basic Rights and Accountability Campaign, for their various roles in ensuring the suspect’s arrest.
The gender advocate, therefore, called on the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter and if found culpable, the suspect should be charged in court for prosecution.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the pastor’s arrest, saying it followed a complaint of alleged defilement by the parents of the tween girl.
Grace Iringe-Koko stated, “Yes, I can confirm his arrest. The Pastor is with us here in the Command. We received a complaint from the parents of the girl and our men working with a local vigilante there arrested him. Investigations are ongoing.”
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The national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is still under lock and key, over 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu’s directive to officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to unseal properties confiscated due to non-payment of ground rent.
Recall that the FCTA embarked on a mass sealing of properties on Monday, triggering an outcry, before Tinubu intervened and ordered the unsealing of the defaulting properties.
The President gave the defaulters a 14-day grace period to pay the ground rent with a penalty of ₦2 million, advising them to regularise all their land titles before the deadline.
According to Daily Trust, at about 10:15 am on Wednesday, the gate of the PDP headquarters in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, was still padlocked, with a seal of the FCTA pasted beside the lock.
Some staff of the party were reportedly seen sitting outside the main gate, while others loitered around, lamenting the development.
Commenting on the development, a staff member who spoke off the record said he suspects that there is an underlying instruction that PDP should not be opened.
The source said, “I was here yesterday when the FCTA staff came around. They went to FIRS, Ibro Hotel, NAPTIP and unsealed all of them. When they got to our office, they quickly drove away.
“I followed them to their office and met with the director of Lands but he said that they are still waiting for instructions from AGIS to unseal PDP.”
At the time of filing this report, the PDP is yet to issue an official reaction to the latest development.
‘I needed controversy to promote my song’ - Speed Darlington makes U-turn over viral claim involving minor
AFOLABI
Controversial Nigerian singer, Speed Darlington, has apologised to his fans following the backlash from a viral video in which he appeared to admit to sleeping with a 15-year-old virgin girl.
In the original footage, now widely condemned across social media, the artist described in unsettling detail a decade-old encounter with a teenage girl, sparking immediate outrage and prompting calls for legal action.
But in a follow-up video posted on his Instagram page on Wednesday, Speed Darlington claimed the viral story was nothing more than a publicity stunt, crafted to promote his latest music release.
He also apologised to his fans and anyone who found the video offensive.
‘’All my followers pissed off about the video I recorded in which I spoke about me sleeping with a 15-year-old, I am an artist. I need controversy to eat. If you are not trending, you are not getting booked. Simple! Nobody is booking something that is not trending.
“I have a new song now. The song is talking about f#ck this, f#ck that. This is my genre. I do not perform Christian music. When I dropped my song, I needed f#ck contents to push it,. That is what I was doing. Don’t give it more like than it is supposed to have.
“If any of you are offended, it’s alright. Apologies.” he said.
PUNCH Online on Tuesday reported that Speed Darlington was criticised following a viral Instagram live video in which he seemingly admitted to defiling a 15-year-old girl.
The incident, which he narrated in Igbo, also prompted swift reactions from the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.
In 2022, Speed Darlington had in an Instagram live revealed an altercation he had with a neighbour who accused him of getting too close to a 16-year-old girl.
The singer filmed two women outside his apartment while he walked around his living room holding a knife to threaten them, saying, “They continually invade my privacy, opening my window, opening my curtain. I’m alone, two people attacking me.”
One of the women, also filming him, was heard saying, “You’ve met your match. Speed comes outside. I will deal with you; I will deal with you. Why are you running? Continue your live video, let them know you’re a rapist. You want to start messaging a 16-year-old girl, a house girl. Open this door, come out.”
PUNCH Online also reported in 2023 that Speed Darlington similarly got many talking following his search for a girlfriend who must be between the ages of 16 and 20.
“I’m looking for a girlfriend number two, 16 to 20 years old. Anyways all these announcements are a waste. I just need to do what I did before; which is go do a show and spend a week in the village after the show, find somebody to bring her to Lagos,” he said.
Watch video below:
Media
A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has awarded N900m in damages against former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, and five others for violating the fundamental human rights of Adara Elders in Kaduna State.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Hauwa’u Buhari on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in a case filed by Mr Awemi Dio Maisamari and eight other Southern Kaduna Adara elders who were victims of illegal detention in 2019.
According to the court, El-Rufai’s actions were unlawful, and he was liable for the damages awarded.
The Judge granted an order of compensation in the sum of N 900 million against Nasir Ahmad Elrufai for arbitrary arrest which he personally orchestrated.
The court also awarded N10 million in general damages and N10 million in special damages against the Nigerian Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, and the Commissioner of Police of Kaduna State.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the applicants, Gloria Mabeiam Ballason, who led SA Alkali and JN Buzun, described the judgment as a landmark achievement against abuse of fundamental human rights and abuse of power by the former governor.
“This judgment marks a watershed against abuse of power and accountability for abuse, whether the occupiers of the office are temporarily shielded by immunity or not,” Ballason said.
“The case was filed after Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai had left government, which explains why he was sued in personal capacity as the first respondent. Even when people in authority enjoy immunity, it does not warrant executive lawlessness.”
Ballason noted that the judgment was a significant victory for the Adara Elders and a reminder of the importance of accountability and respect for human rights, even for those in positions of authority.
The 2nd and 6th Respondents were represented by J.A. Danazumi Esq, Solicitor General and Koni Tauna Esq while Sirajo Mohammed Esq represented the 3rd, 4th and 5th Respondents.
When contacted for their reaction on the judgement, Counsel to the respondents Barrister J. A. Danazumi, who is the solicitor General, declined to comment.
The WHISTLER reports that the applicants were arrested and detained in 2019 following the murder of the paramount ruler, Dr. Raphael Maiwada Galadima. El-Rufai, who was governor at the time, personally ordered the police to arrest Mr. Awemi Maisamari, labeling him as “part of the security problem” in Kajuru.
Maisamari, who was the national President of the Adara Development Association at the time of his arrest, was detained along with eight other Adara elders, including a former Commissioner, Engr. Bawa Magaji, and a former Commissioner of Police.
The applicants were later released after months in detention on the advice of the Attorney General, who found nothing incriminating against them.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has donated three acres of land to the International Council for Ifa Religion for the construction of the World Ifa Temple.
This was aimed at promoting its activities and establishing the largest pilgrimage site for Yoruba traditional worshippers across the world.
The ICIR announced this in a statement released by its President, Fayemi Fakayode, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday.
Fakayode said, “This gesture of our referred first class Oba has demonstrated his love for tradition and Yoruba culture and spirituality.
“On behalf of the Council of Araba and Oluwo, under the Chairmanship of His Eminence, Awodotun Aworeni, the Araba/Olu-Isese Agbaye and all practitioners of Ifa and Orisa Worldwide, we thank His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, for this good and historic gesture.
“With this step, Ooni’s commitment to preserving and promoting Oduduwa’s cultural heritage and spirituality is obvious to all to see.
“This project is going to be the largest World Ifa Temple across the world, and it will serve as a major pilgrimage site for practitioners of Oduduwa’s spirituality across the globe.”
He said the three acres of land are located around the Stadium Area, Route 7, Ile-Ife, Osun State, and work has begun on the site.
It will be recalled that ICIR, whose headquarters is located at Oke-Itase, Ile Ife, had recently requested the land for the construction of what the body tagged “the Largest World Ifa Temple” in Ile Ife.